Autographic register



H. L. ROBERTS.

AUTOGRAPHI C REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1918.

Patented Aug. 8 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

wvemfoz H. L. ROBERTS.

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 27,19I8.

1,4249% Patented. Aug. 8, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6 1 v a; i v

/ 5/ 50 g 5/ J a i F Hg; 5 50 I i 4 gnvewi'oz H. L. ROBERTS.

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1918.

1W2, 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Patented; Aug. 8

Secf/on 6-8 5] muen'ioz Secf/on /0 /0 UNET TS TENT FQ.

HERBERT, L. aonnn'rs, or monolvro, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR 'ro BUSINESS SYSTEMS, LIMITED, or TORONTO, CANADA, A CQRZPORATION or cAn nA.

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 8, 11922.

Application filed July 27, 1918. Serial No. 247,039.

10 all whom it mag concern.

Be it known that I, HERBERT L. Ronnn'rs,

a subject of the King of England, residing istering perforations are periodically engaged by aligning pins to relatively register the superposed forms at the completion of each recording and-feeding operation, so as to insure the detachment of slips of uniform length corresponding properly with the printed forms contained thereon.

In this class of machines it has heretofore 1 been the usual practice to provide sheet registering or aligning devices in the form of pins which were designed to enter the register openings of the superposed webs and by their engagement with the walls of said openings, arrest the forward feed movement of all of the webs in properly aligned or registered position.

The main feature of the present invention comprises a novel registering or aligning nal sectional view showing one of the slotted supporting brackets for the gravity take up rolls;

mechanism for autographic registers. The improved machine is provided with suitable feeding mechanism for advancing the superposed webs of paper over a Writing table from supply rolls supported beneath the writing table and feed arresting means controlled by automatically acting feeler and aligning fingers which operate upon the moving webs and move into the register openings of the webs for tripping the feeding mechanism and releasing its hold upon the webs to permit the webs to be drawn backwardly over the writing table until their backward movement is arrested by the engagement-of the walls of the register openings with the feeler and aligning pins. This registering operation of the improved machine of the present invention differs from mechanisms heretofore employed in that the registry of the sheets is in a rearward direction, opposite to the feeding movementbrought about by the release of the feed mechanism upon the webs. \Vhen the webs are. released from'the feeding mechanism the rearward registry movement may be accomplished by the natural spring or set of the paper stock, or by any suitable mechanical means, but it is preferably effected by the emplo ment of idler rolls, operating in a suitab e slotted support in the machine frame, tending to draw back independently upon the superposed webs when the feeding mechanism releases them. These idler rolls may be actuated by gravity or by spring. In the case of gravity rolls, the rolls are mounted 1n properly inclined slots formed in their support.

The present invention also includes structural featu res of improvement in the paper roll supporting devices, the carbon roll support, the automatically controlled web feeding mechanism and the feeler mechanism which controls the feed and serves to register the perforated webs at the completion of each operation. i

All these features will first be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and their novelty afterward pointed out more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view-of an autographic f register embodying the present invention; F gure 2 1s a side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail longitudi- Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the carbon roll support, on a slightly larger scale;

Figure 6 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail end elevation of the machine:

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are detail vertical longitudinal sectional views 01 the automatic feed and registering devices, said views being taken, respectively, upon the section lines. 8-8, 9-9, 1010 and 1111 of Figure 7, in the directions of the indicating arrows.

The fundamental difference between the autographic register of the present invention and those that have heretofore been employed is the reversal of operation in the registering of the superposed perforated webs or sheets of paper. In the present in vention the aligning and feeler fingers are arranged to disconnect the web feed mechanism from the superposed webs to permit a slight rearward motion of the webs over the writing table, the pins projecting through the openings in the webs arresting this rearward movement to place the super osed webs in proper registering relation.

his release of the feed in addition tothe registering or aligning action of the feeler fingers is considered to be an important novel feature.

In the embodiment of the present inven tion, shown in the accompanying drawings, the machine is built up upon the usual side frames 1 and 2, connected by strengthening cross rods or tie bars, such as shown at 3 and by the. operating parts hereinafter referred to. 5 is a table frame pivotally mounted at its rear end upon a rod 6, mounted in the upper edges of side frames 1 and 2 and formed with downwardly presented side flanges 7 and 8 that snugly fit over the upper edges of the side frames 1 and 2 when the table is in lowered operative position. The rear end of the table is cut away, as shown at 10, and mounted in this cutaway portion are downwardly presented bracket flanges 14- and 15, formed with inclined slots 16, in which are freely mounted the journal ends of gravity idler rolls 20. These rolls 20 serve the double function of guiding the webs of paper from the supply rolls (presently referred to) to the writing table, and providing automatic means for moving the websrearwardlyover the table when the feed mechanism releases them for the purpose hereinafter explained. The number of idler rolls 20 depends upon the number of webs that are to be handled in the machine. The accompanying drawings show four such rolls.

The previously printed and properly perforated webs or sheets are mounted in roll formgas commonly practiced in this art.

I for holding the head yieldingly in engage ment with the tubular roll spindle. These spring pressed rotating bearings for the rolls cause the rolls to be pressed against the stationary bearing heads with sufiicient pressure to properly retard the feeding movement and since all of the rolls are pressed t eaaeee toward the same side of the machine and are supported by the same form of devices it will be seen that the side edges of the superposed webs of paper will be properly aligned. This arrangement for supporting the rolls affords convenient means for mounting and removing the rolls of paper and, if desired, proper handles (not shown) may be mounted upon the outer ends of the movable spindles 27 for actuating them.

Secured to the table side flange at the right are a pair of outwardly projecting bracket arms 35, 36, formed with vertical slots 37 adapted to receive the rod 4:0, which supports the roll of the required number of webs of carbon paper. These carbon webs are'all wound upon the same rod, as is usual. This supporting rod 40 is-formed with vertical slots 41. fitting over walls of the brackets 35, 36 to accurately position and support the rod in the brackets. This rod 40 carries a disk or collar 45, which is adjustable longitudinally of the rod to engage and position carbon rolls of different lengths. This disk or collar 45 is formed with a peripheral notch 46, in whichengages a spring bail 50, having its opposite ends shaped into short crank arms 51, which engage openings 35 36 of the brackets. This spring bail 50 holds the disk or collar 45 in the desired adjusted position upon the carbon roll supporting rod 40.

(i0 is a flanged cover plate pivotally mounted upon the rod 6 and formed with downwardly presented side flanges adapted to fit over the side flange of table 5 at one side and the carbon roll supporting brackets 35, 36 at the opposite side. This ,cover plate forms a top housing for the carbon sheets and a marginal housing for the superposed webs ofpaper, the plate being centrally cut out. as shown at 61 to expose the central zones of the successive register blanks of the topmost web. This cover plate may carry suitable downwardly presented detents to engage the carbon sheets to hold against displacement in the operation of the register. Means may also be provided for locking the cover plate in closed position. These auxiliary devices are well known in the art.

Mounted between the side frames at their forward or delivery ends is a suitable frame consisting of side plates 75 braced by the tie plates 76, 77, in which is mounted the web feeding and. aligning mechanisms which will now be described.

The upper feed roller 80 is journaled in the upright side members 75 just above the plane of the feed of the paper webs from the writing table. This upper roll 80 is formed with annular feed ribs or collars 81 a short distance from its ends, a central integral series of gear teeth 82, a similar series of gear teeth 83 at one end, and a combined them the two side plates and driving gear st st its opposite ends A creel: handle is secured to the projecting journal end of roll 86 at the left hand side oi the machine, hy which the feeding mechanism is manually operated. A gravity stop dog or pawl 85 is pivoted at 87 to the frame piece 5 in position to constantly engage the combined retchet and drive geer 8 1 to prevent backward rotation of the some. I

90 is the lower feed roller freely journaled in e pivoted'carrying frsme consisting of side plates 91, connected by tie rods 92, '93 which ellow at slight relative yield between The side plates are independently pivotedin the upright frame plates i5, 75 upon pivots 95. Tension springs 96 connect the tie rod 93 adjacent to frame plates 91 with a rock shaft 97 journeled in plates 75, to yielding-1y hold the lower feed roller in peripheral engagement with the annular feed collars oi the upper roll; the opposite ends of lower feed roller being acted upon independently to insure accuracy in the feeding operation.

The rock shaft 97 has rigidly secured to it two bifurcated rocir arms 98, the bifurca tions of which straddle the tie rod 92 in j acent to plates 91 of the pivotelly mounted spring actuated frsme of the lower iced roll. This reel: shaft also has rigidly secured to it a rock erm 100, which projects upwardly and hackwerdly over the gear teeth 83 of the upper feed roll 80. To the free end of this rock erm 100 is pivotelly mounted at 101 e dog 102, engaged by e spring 103, oarrie hy arm 100. This dog 102 is designed to till move into engagement with the series of cor teeth 83 when releesed, by the controling mechanism hereinefter described, for the purpose of positively rocking both side plates 9101? the ireme carrying" the lower "feed roller to seperstethe feed rolls and re lease the webs therefrom.

105 is e horizontel plate formed with downwardly projecting end flanges 106, through hich project the inner ends of pivot bolts 95. The flanged ends of the plate 105 are secured upon these pivot holts by suitable nuts" This plate 165 forms it short horizontal extension of the inclined writing table for accurately presenting the webs of paper to the feeding mechanism and the controlling and registering devices. Plate 1-05 is formed with vertical slots 108 for the reception 'of the feeler end aligning fin ers 110 which will now he described.

ourneled in the upright ironic parts 75 above the feed rollers above described, is e rock shalt carrying loosely mounted rearwerdly present-ed arms 116 end 117, upon which are loosely hung the ieeler and nligning lingers 110. These fingers 110 r-eciprocete freely end vertically in suitableguides 111, secured to the upright tie pinto will hereinafter he explained.

' The arm 115 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 115 loy moons of s set screw 116 engaging a flat or recess 115 in sheit 115. ii torsion spring 118 loosely surrounds the shaft 115, engaging at one end on overhang-- ing finger 119 secured to piste l5, and at its-opposite end the arm 116,

The arm 11? also hes it limited lost motion connection with the shnft 115 hy which it will hemoved generally with the shaft 115, but will else have a slight independent yielding movement with reletion to the shaft. This heck lesh or lost motion can he provided for in any suitable manner, such as hy the means above described for mounting arm 116 upon the shaft 115. A torsion spring 121 surrounds the shaft 115, adjacent the arm 117, with one ,end attached to the bracket arm 12.2 secured to plate 76, and the'other end attached to the arm 11?.

The purpose of this arrangement is to provide ifeeler fingers with a slight inde pendent yielding motion in their action upon the passing perforated webs, so that each finger can independently enter perforation or series of partially registering perforations and can yield to eny ine ualities in the wehs, without interfering with the operation of the other finger. This independent spring notion of the 'i-eeler registering finger is on importent lecture The two feeler fingers co-operete in end permit the throw-out notion only when both fingers enter the register openings of the webs.

129 is erock arm secured to sheit 115, by

ill)

llltl which it is -manuelly operated for raising and latching the feeler end aligning lingers and associated devices.

The shaft 115 carries, centrelly between its ends, is rigidly attached cem shaped coller 130, termed with e rndiel notch 131 llll in which engages a pawl or dog 132 pivoted I at 133 in e bracket 134:, secured to plate l' 76. A spring 135 connects the dog 132 with a bracket erm 136 projectine from piste 75. 140 is e vertically moveh le carrier plate operating in suitable bracket erms 1 11-1412 projecting from plate 75, the plate 1 10 being formed with en elongated slot 1 10*, through which passes the shell: 115. llete 140 is "formed with a notch 141T, in which engages on eccentric pin 1&5; projecting leterelly from the fees of the coin shaped I collar 130. 4 p i This cerrier plate 140 hits "freely journaled upon it at e segment-cl gear 155.. A spring 156, connected st one end with the fixed bracket 141, above referred to, is at point 155 of said dog being provided with a pin 132" which is presented in a segmental recess in the adjacentface of the segment 155, so as to engage the shoulder or end wall of said recess when the gear segment is rotated to effect the disengagement of the dog 132 from the notched collar 130 to release the feeler and aligning fingers ,above described.

The rotation of ear segment- 155 is effected by its intermeshing with the series of .gearteeth 82, formed upon the upper feed roller 80, as above described. As will behereinafter more fully described, in explaining the operation of the machine, it will be.ob-- served that when the shaft 115 is rocked for raising the feeler and aligning fingers, the notched collar .130 is thrown into engagement with the dog 132 for holding the fingers elevated, the same action causing the carrier late 140 to be moved downwardly for t rowing the gear segment 155 into mesh with the series of gear teeth 82, thereby setting the dog tripping device in readiness for automatic operation to release the feeler fingers-when the succeeding operation takes place.

Adjustably mounted upon the shaft 115, adjacent one end, is an adjustable cam' 165, which operates in a yoke 170, which straddles and is supported by the cam 165 and is ivoted at its lower end 171 to the free end of the dog 102, above referred to. The spring 103 acting through the dog 102 causes yoke. 170 to closely follow the cam 165. The purpose of the cam 165 and yoke 170 is to raise or lower the dog 102 with reference to the ratchet wheel 83. When the rock arm 129 rocks shaft 115 for raising feeler fingers 110 and latching them in ele- I vated position, the cam 165 acting through yoke 170 'raises dog 102 awayfrom the ratchet teeth 83, thereby permitting the springs of the lower feed roller to throw that roller into operative relation with the upper feed roll.

'The operation of the improved register may be briefly explainedas follows:

The several properly repared webs are led from their supporting rolls over the guiding and take u rolls 20 to the writing table 5, over which the several webs of carbon paper are passed from the, carbon supportin roller, the carbon sheets being interpos between the record webs'and secured a ainst displacement in the manner well un erstood in this art.

The several superposed webs are threaded between the upper and lower feed rolls and adjusted into re istered position with the aligning pins 110fpassing through the registering openingso the several webs. In this adjustment at the start the feed 'rolls are spread apart by pressure on rock arm 100 so t at the Webs inay move freely in the machine and with relation to each other. 'With the webs properly positioned and the feed rolls thrown into action, the operator makes his record of a sale or other transaction of which he desires a manifold record, and then, by rotating the crank 85 clockwise, feeds the several webs over the writing table andout of the delivery end of the machine. The feed is maintained until the aligning and registering pins 110 drop into the perforations of the web, which acti'on permits the spring actuated rock shaft 115 to move and lower the dog 102 into mesh'with the r0- tating gear teeth 83, which draws rearwardly on the rock arm 100 for spreading apart the feed rolls and releasing the record webs from the grip of the feed mechanism. At the completion of this feed arresting op- 'eration, the dog 102 continues in engagement with the gear teeth .83, thereby arresting the rotation of. the feed rollsin a feeding direction and in co-operation with the do 86 in its engagement with gear84 locking t e feed mechanism in the spread apart condition.

When the superposed webs are released from the feed rolls in the manner explained they are all pulledbackwardly over the feed table by the idlertake up rolls 20, moving by gravity in their inclined slots, each paper web being independently pulled backwardly until it is arrested by the engagement of the we s are brought into" accurate alignment and registry, any-slight inequality in the action upon one or more of the webs being completely corrected by the registering operation. In this way there is no i danger whatever of accumulating error in registry of the record webs.

walls of its registering perforations with the ah ning pins- In this manner; all of the Immediately following the registry of the webs, as explained, the operator depresses the rock arm 129, with the result that dog 102 is firsty-raised out of engagement with gear 83 to 'permit the lower feed roll .to spring back into feedin relation with the upper roll to grip the webs between the rolls, and lmmediately following the grip of the webs; by the feed rolls, the ali ning and reglstermg pins are withdrawn rom the register openings and'the rock shaft-with its attached parts, above described, is latched in its retracted position. The projecting manifold records are then to be severed from the webs by any suitable means. In the machine illustrated I have employed the tie plate 77,

as a cutting bar up against which the pro j'ecting slips can be torn ofi. In this tearmg ofioperation the webs are rigidly held insects aglaiinst movement by the grip of the feeding ro s.

When the succeeding record is made lipon the superposed webs the operation is repeated, the'initial movement of the upper feed roll causing the rotation of gearsegment 155 against the action of spring 156 until its engagement with pin 132 unlatches dog 132 from notched collar 130, with the result that the feeler fingers 1.10 are dropped uponthe superposed webs just in rear of the register openings, which were employed for aligning. the webs for the preceding record. The retarded release of the fingers insures a sufiicient movement of the webs to place the register openings out of range of the fingers This release of the rock shaft also partially lowers the dog 102, the adjustment of the controllin cam being such that the dog will be he d just out of engagement with the gear 83. The feeler lingers jointly sustaining the pressure of dog 102, spring 103 and yoke 170, and actuated independently by the controlling springs upon shaft 115, press lightly upon the superposed webs asthey move forward from the writing table, under-the action of the feed mechanism, until the fingers enter the next succeeding pair of register openings which causes a repetition of the operation above described in detail.

The flexibilityof the pivoted frame for supporting the lower feed roller permits a limited relative movement between the opposite pivoted side plates 91. By this means the springs 96ers caused'to act independently, to a limited extent, for maintaining effective feeding engagement of the opposite ends of roll 90 with the feed collars 81 of the upper roll. In the arrest of the feeding operation, both ends of roll'tlO are positively moved away from upper roll by reason of rock arms 98 engaging rod 92 adjacent both H side plates 91.

The feeler fingers are permitted to act independently within certain required limits, so that the danger of failure to properly align-the superposed. webs is reduced to a minimum. The construction is such that the feed is not released until both feeler fingers have passed through all of the perforations of the superposed webs.

The operation of the feeler fingers in disconnecting the mechanism for the paper is I thought to be broadly novel. Tn addition to the release of the feed, the teeler lingers cooperate with the means for moving the webs rearwardly for registering the sheets in a manner which is exactly the reverse of the method heretofore employed. The construction is'simple and the operation is more effective than those heretofore employed,

since the errors of feed are corrected by pullmg back the webs that have gone too far instead of depending upon uncertain mocha nism for feeding forward the webs which have not gone far enough These means for registering webs in. an autographic registering machine are considered to be broadly new, and T wish it to beunderstood thatl do not intend to limit my claims to the specil ic forms of the feeding devices, the registering devices'or the means for moving or shifting the webs in the regist ring operation.

The adjustable support for the roll of carbon Webs is important, in that it permits the use of carbons of" exactly the size required for the record-slips that are being' employed. The support can be adjusted to receive a wide roll of carbon sheets or a narrow roll, according to requirement. This ailords a means for economizing in the use of the carbon sheets.

T claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of suitable web feeding means, and suitable registering means, with means actuated by the registering means'ior disengaging the feeding means from the web.

2. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of suitable web feeding means, and suit-able registering; means, with means actuated. by the registering means for disengaging the feeding means from the web, and web shifting-means acting independently of the feeding means,

3. in a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a web with a feeler device adapted to enter a perforation in the Web and release the feed mechanism therefrom.

4, In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a web, with a feeler device adapted to enter a perforation in the web and means actuated by the movement of the feeler device for releasing the feeding'means from the web.

5. a machine of the oharacter'described, the combination oi means for feedinga web, with a registering device adapted toqenter a perforation in the web, means actuated by the movement of the registering device for releasing the feeding means from the Web, and means independent of the feeding means for imparting a registering movement-to the web.

. 6-. In amaehine of the character described, the combination of suitable feedingniechanism for advancing a web, a registering device therefor, means controlled by the registering device for automatically releasing the engagement of the feeding mechanism upon the web, and means for moving the released l is web in a direction, reverse to the feedingmovementuntil arrested by the registering device 79 in amachine of the character described, the combination of suitable feeding mechanism for advancing-a plurality of superposed webs, registering means for said webs, means controlled by the registering means for automatically releasing the engagement of the feeding mechanism upon the webs and means acting independently upon the several webs for'moving'the released webs until arrested by the registering means.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination'of suitable feeding mechanism for advancing a plurality of superposed Webs, registering means for said webs, means controlled by the registering means for automatically releasing the engagement of the feeding mechanism upon the webs and means acting independently upon the means, and suitable registering means, with means actuated by the registering means for arresting the operationof the feeding means, restraining means holding the registering means out of action, and means actuated by the feeding means for disengaging said restraining means to permit the registering 'means to move into action.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of suitable feeding means, and suitable registering means, with means actuated by the registering means for arresting the operation of the feeding means, restraining means for holding the registering means out of action, and timed retardlng means actuated by the feeding means for disengaging said restraining means to permit the registering means to move into action after the start of the feedlng movement. I

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable feed mechanism for advancing a plurality fof superposed webs, automatiomeans for sh fting the webs rearwardly, suitable registering fingers arranged to enter registering perforations in the several webs to arrest and register the rearward movement of the webs, and automatic means actuated by said fingers for disengaging the feeding mechanism from the Webs.

13. In a machine of the character de-' scribed, the combination of suitable feed mechanism, suitable registering fingers adapted to enter registering perforations in a web, means actuated'by the movement of rea ises said table, a Web passing over said take up roll to. said table, suitable feed mechanism for moving the web over said table, suitable sheetregistering pins; and 'means actuated by the movement of the registering pins for dislengaging the feed mechanism from the we 15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a Writing table, a plurality of take up rolls movably mounted adjacent to said table, and adapted to individually'engage Webs superposed upon said table, suitable feed mechanism for moving the webs over said table, suitable sheet registering pins adapted to enter registerin perforations in the superposed webs and means actuated by the registering pins for disengaging the feed mechanism from the webs to allow the take up rolls to move the webs rearwardly and register them upon. said pins.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a writing table, roller supporting guideways mounted adjacent to said table at an angle to the plane of the table, movably mounted in said gu'ideways, adapted-to individually engage webs superposed upon saidtable, suitable feed mechanism for moving said webs over said table, suitable registering devices and means; for automatically disengaging the feed mechanism from said'webs to permit the take up rolls to shift the webs rearwardly until arrested by the registering devices.

17.,In a machine, of the character de-- scribed, the combinationof a writing table, roller supporting guideways mounted adjacent to said table at an angle to the plane of the table, a plurality of gravity take up rolls movably mounted in said guideways, and individually engaging webs superposed upon said table, moving said webs over said table, suitable registering devices and means controlled by said registering. devices for automatically disengaging the feed mechanism from said Webs'to permit the take up rolls to shift the webs rearwardly untilarrested by the registering devices. v Y

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a feed roll mounted in fixed bearings, a spring pressed frame pivotally mounted adjacent to said fixed feed roll, a second feed roll journaled in said frame,

a plurality of gravity take up rolls suitable feed mechanism for.

a rock shaft carrying rock arms engagmg the said spring pressed frame, a rock arm projecting from said rock shaft, means arranged between said fixed roll and said rock arm for operating said frame, and suitable registering means controlling the connection between said roll and said rock arm.

19. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a feed roll mounted in fixed bearings, a spring pressed frame pivotally mounted adjacent to said fixed feed roll, a second feed roll journaled in said frame, a rock shaft carrying rock arms engaging the said spring pressed frame, a rock arm projecting from said rock shaft, a gear upon said fixed roll, a dog carried by said rock arm. adapted to engage said gear for operating said frame, and suitable registering'means controlling the action of said dog.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of feed rolls, means for moving one of said rolls relatively to the other, suitable feeler registering fingers supported above the path of a web, a,spring actuated rock shaft supporting said fingers, a latch arranged to hold said shaft against movement with said fingers elevated, means actuated by said shaft for operating said roll moving means and means actuated by One of said rolls for tripping said latch.

21. In a machine of the'character described, the combination of a pair of feed.

rolls, means for moving one of said rolls relatively-to the other, suitable feeler registering fingers supported above the path of a web, a spring actuated rock shaft supporting said fingers, a latch arranged to hold said shaft against movement with said fingers elevated, a segment gear having lost motion connection with said latch, and automatic means for operatably connecting said segment gear with one of said feed rolls.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of feed rolls, means for moving. one of said rolls relativelg to the other, suitable feeler registering ngers supported above the path of a web, a spring actuated rock shaft supporting said fingers, a latch arranged to hold said shaft against movement with said fingers elevated, a vertical movable support actuated by said rock shaft, a segment gear journaled upon said support, a spring de vice normally holding said segment gear in retracted position, a gear upon one of said feed rolls with which said segment gear is adapted to mesh and a lost motion connection between said segment gear and said latch.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table, means for. feeding a web over said table, a rock shaft, suitable registering fingers carried by and having lost motion connection with said rock shaft, independent springs acting upon said fingers and means controlled by said rock shaft for releasing the feeding means.

24. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table, means for feeding a web over said table, a sheet registering device including a spring actuated rock shaft, a latching device for holding said rock shaft in its inactive position, means controlled by said rock shaft for disengaging the feed mechanism, and means actuated by the feed mechanism for tripping said latch.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table, a pair of feed rolls for feeding a web over said table, a registering device including a spring actuated rock shaft, means controlled by said rock shaft for separating said feed rolls to arrest their feeding op eration, a dog adapted to latch said rock shaft in its inactive position, and a toothed member thrown into engagement with one of said'feed rolls by the inactive movement of said rock shaft and having suitable connection with said dog for tripping it when the feed rolls are operated.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table, a pair of feed rolls for feeding a web over said table, one of said rolls being journaled in a pivotally mounted spring actuated frame, means for moving said roll supporting frame, including a rock shaft suitably connected with the frame and having a rock arm projecting therefrom, a dog mounted upon said rock arm, a-gear upon one of said feed rolls with which said dog is adapted to engage and suitable registering means having controlling connection with said dog.

27. In a friction-roll manifolder employing perforated form strips, .a drive roll and a cooperative pressure roll for feeding said strips, means for relaxing the pressure between the rolls after feeding said strips a predetermined distance, form registering means for engaging form perforations at the time of said pressure relaxation, and form adjusting means adapt ed to act upon the forms.

HERBERT L. ROBERTS. 

